What got you into lugers?

stressed · 03-22-2014, 12:42 PM

Just curious some of the reasons these fine weapons have the following they do amongst us.

GySgt1811 · 03-22-2014, 01:41 PM

Please forgive me, but is "connotion" the same as "connection" or is there a meaning I don't understand?

Gunny John

stressed · 03-22-2014, 02:06 PM

Yes, had a brain freeze. Apologies.

Shadowsix · 03-22-2014, 02:15 PM

My father bought one when I was 6 years old. I got to fire it when I was 8 years old (with my father standing behind me). It was the first pistol I ever shot. It was a make from the late '60s (he bought it new). The reason my father had me and my older brother fire it was because he kept it in his nightstand in case of intruder and my father wanted us as kids to understand it and have respect for it that it was dangerous & not a toy.

Because of that neither my brother or I ever touched it unless my father was around and allowed it.

I've owned many pistols & some rifles in my life so far but until my father died I never owned a Luger myself. My mother had my father sell his Luger only a few years before he died when his health started to decline (she was probably afraid he would commit suicide because of his declining health) so my brother & I never had a chance to acquire it from him.

My father had other guns but that was the one he kept the longest.

Even though my father's was a modern one he would be proud of my 1917 DWM 9mm.

alvin · 03-22-2014, 02:19 PM

First time heard of this pistol was from Soviet post WWII novel "Destiny of a Man". A Russian soldier lost his family in the war, he was captured. German had shortage on drivers, he knew how to drive, so he was moved out of camp to drive a car for an officer. He managed to escape. The pistol was mentioned in what context,,,, I forgot, that's too many years ago.... but it's not "Luger" in the book, it's referred as "Parabellum". It's many years later that I learned it had another name "Luger".

Sergio Natali · 03-22-2014, 03:00 PM

Well several year ago I started collecting 1911; then I started collectig K98 K and from the German WWII carbine to their main handgun was just a short step, so I started messing about with Lugers P.08 Then I realized that would have been more intelligent to re-start again the small collection with Lugers buying decent Swiss ones... and the story is still going on ...

:-)

sheepherder · 03-22-2014, 03:13 PM

I believe the word is 'connotation'...

This poll would have to be aimed at 'collectors' rather than casual accumulators [like me]. I bought my first 'Luger' back in the '70's from my recruiter, and another several months later.

I'm not really a fanatical follower of Georg Luger, as I consider him a 'plagiarizer' of Hugo Borchardt's ideas. But I am fascinated by both for being 'Rube Goldberg' concepts.

Mostly I like to study the way it is manufactured, machined, assembled, and finished. I once worked in an aero factory that made P-40 Warhawks during WW II and quite a bit of the machinery was still there and in use. I would love to be able to tour a genuine Parabellum factory (any one of the seven).

Or any early 1900's handgun production facility.

...Like this one...

Edward Tinker · 03-22-2014, 04:36 PM

Voted 'other'
A little of each I would imagine

I have a few things that stick out in my mind from growing up - lugers I read about in Guns and Ammo - Nambu's, baby Nambu's, then Mustangs - certain things attract me more than others

My first luger, I still own, a buffed and reblued Erfurt Artillery - it feeds and shoots almost anything, great gun, sold a 4 inch Python in Hawaii and bought it for $325 in circa 1984

tomaustin · 03-22-2014, 04:45 PM

closes 2016 ????

Curss · 03-22-2014, 04:51 PM

My father used to talk about an engraved and fancy luger he found in a trailer home when he was a kid. He sold it to a friend of his for an astronomical price at the time after he broke the firing pin in it when he went plinking one day.

! He had a fascination for WWII era stuff as well, it kinda rubbed off on me I guess. He admired the P08, and almost bought a stainless luger made by Mitchell Arms.

At some point in time, I got tired of hearing him go on about the dern things and I bought a parted out Erfurt, and that led to a DWM 1917, and THAT led to my beloved 1920 Commercial!!! I helped my dad get a S/42, and my DWM 1917 went to my little brother...my mom has no interest in them!

Sadly my dad passed on January 7th, 2012. I sorely miss him, I think he would've been pleased to have seen some of the guns we have collected since.

318is_Parabellum · 03-22-2014, 05:11 PM

Being a younger guy that grew up in the 70's and 80's, my fascination with the P. 08 stems from watching all the war movies I watched as a kid. The luger has always had a certain cachet and mystique as portrayed by Hollywood, especially in the movies made in the 25 years after war's end.

I remember vividly, in a scene from "Where Eagles Dare", where the SS sturmbannfurher bursts into a conference room where Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood had taken some German officers hostage, and the SS man proceeds to hold them at gunpoint with his luger pistol. I remember thinking that "wow, that pistol is cool...I'll have one of those someday!".

I finally acquired a byf 42 in 2005 or so.

As a military veteran, and having had relatives who fought in both theaters of operations in WW2, I have since gained a real appreciation for the fact that I can acquire these weapons of our defeated enemies, and marvel at the role they played in history and making the world as it is today.

GySgt1811 · 03-22-2014, 05:17 PM

I just voted "other." Reason? All the above!

Gunny John

PS. Sorry about the spelling Nazi thing, Stressed, but I really wasn't sure.

stressed · 03-22-2014, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Tinker

Voted 'other'
A little of each I would imagine

I have a few things that stick out in my mind from growing up - lugers I read about in Guns and Ammo - Nambu's, baby Nambu's, then Mustangs - certain things attract me more than others

My first luger, I still own, a buffed and reblued Erfurt Artillery - it feeds and shoots almost anything, great gun, sold a 4 inch Python in Hawaii and bought it for $325 in circa 1984

You see how much those pythons are going for now? Looks like luger prices, and then some.

Mustang are nice. I have two Chevelles and a road runner. Love old cars.

sheepherder · 03-22-2014, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Tinker

I have a few things that stick out in my mind from growing up - Nambu's, baby Nambu's, then Mustangs...

Quote:

Originally Posted by stressed

Mustang are nice. I have two Chevelles and a road runner. Love old cars.

Wow. Reading posts here really points out the differences in thought processes between you guys and me. When I read that, I thought "P-51"...

(p.s. - I have an L98 Vette)

Zorba · 03-22-2014, 06:46 PM

Partially to honor my late father, a WW II vet (Navy, Pacific Theatre), partially because of the fine German engineering (I have a "thing" for old MBZ Diesels too), partly because of the connection to Nazi Germany (Make something good out of something bad), that period of history is the most responsible for the way our world is today and I grew up hearing ALL about it!

I have a Nambu for the same reason, and would LOVE to add a Remington Rand 1911 to the collection. P.38 would be nice too!

Patronen · 03-22-2014, 09:49 PM

I look at lugers differently today than I did many years ago. The reason has been both the passage of time and education. I'll admit it started as a kid with movies.
No Thanks to the Nazi's and Hollywood's help in portraying them in my opinion sealed the fate for the Luger as being the ultimate bad guys gun. You can pull 10 people at random off the street and show them a picture of a Luger and that could be any Luger a 1900 an American Eagle, Finnish, Swiss, maybe even an Erma .22 and I would beg to guess at least 5 out of the 10 would call it a luger or associate it with Nazis, Hitler or Germany under Nazism?

Zorba · 03-22-2014, 10:02 PM

Probably closer to 8 out of 10!

stressed · 03-22-2014, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepherder

Wow. Reading posts here really points out the differences in thought processes between you guys and me. When I read that, I thought "P-51"...

(p.s. - I have an L98 Vette)

you didn't think of a Colt Mustang? Maybe the man likes pocket pistols..

I saw your yellow convertible, looks sharp.

mikedavid · 03-23-2014, 09:35 AM

As a young boy in the 50's my fathers family (not my father) were, lets say, just the opposite of police. When they came to the house to visit they all carried Lugers. They would take out there gun and set it on top of a table and my father would tell me that I could look, but never touch. I fell in love with these pistols and as soon as I was able, purchase my first one. I have a collection of them now, and will give them to my children when I die.

GySgt1811 · 03-23-2014, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepherder

Wow. Reading posts here really points out the differences in thought processes between you guys and me. When I read that, I thought "P-51"...

(p.s. - I have an L98 Vette)

(Mine's a 1999 LS1 Maggie Red 6spd coupe!)

Guns

View Poll Results: Peaked interest of Lugers
One of the first widely adopted automatic pistols	1	1.27%
Craftsmenship, engineering, function	27	34.18%
Beauty, apperance, style	14	17.72%
Romanticized/connotion to WWI	5	6.33%
Connection to the Weimer Republic	2	2.53%
Romanticized/connection to Nazi Germany & WWII	9	11.39%
Other (explain)	21	26.58%
Voters: 79. You may not vote on this poll

03-22-2014, 12:42 PM	#1
stressed User Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 197 Thanks: 41 Thanked 43 Times in 30 Posts	What got you into lugers? Just curious some of the reasons these fine weapons have the following they do amongst us.

03-22-2014, 03:00 PM	#6
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,082 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	Well several year ago I started collecting 1911; then I started collectig K98 K and from the German WWII carbine to their main handgun was just a short step, so I started messing about with Lugers P.08 Then I realized that would have been more intelligent to re-start again the small collection with Lugers buying decent Swiss ones... and the story is still going on ... :-) __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

03-22-2014, 03:13 PM	#7
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,181 Thanks: 1,398 Thanked 4,438 Times in 2,327 Posts	I believe the word is 'connotation'... This poll would have to be aimed at 'collectors' rather than casual accumulators [like me]. I bought my first 'Luger' back in the '70's from my recruiter, and another several months later. I'm not really a fanatical follower of Georg Luger, as I consider him a 'plagiarizer' of Hugo Borchardt's ideas. But I am fascinated by both for being 'Rube Goldberg' concepts. Mostly I like to study the way it is manufactured, machined, assembled, and finished. I once worked in an aero factory that made P-40 Warhawks during WW II and quite a bit of the machinery was still there and in use. I would love to be able to tour a genuine Parabellum factory (any one of the seven). Or any early 1900's handgun production facility. ...Like this one... Attached Thumbnails __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

03-22-2014, 04:36 PM	#8
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,909 Thanks: 1,986 Thanked 4,500 Times in 2,076 Posts	Voted 'other' A little of each I would imagine I have a few things that stick out in my mind from growing up - lugers I read about in Guns and Ammo - Nambu's, baby Nambu's, then Mustangs - certain things attract me more than others My first luger, I still own, a buffed and reblued Erfurt Artillery - it feeds and shoots almost anything, great gun, sold a 4 inch Python in Hawaii and bought it for $325 in circa 1984 __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

03-22-2014, 01:41 PM	#2
GySgt1811 Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Southern Indiana Posts: 237 Thanks: 1,238 Thanked 126 Times in 84 Posts	Please forgive me, but is "connotion" the same as "connection" or is there a meaning I don't understand? Gunny John

03-22-2014, 02:06 PM	#3
stressed User Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 197 Thanks: 41 Thanked 43 Times in 30 Posts	Yes, had a brain freeze. Apologies.

03-22-2014, 02:15 PM	#4
Shadowsix User Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 106 Thanks: 56 Thanked 26 Times in 18 Posts	My father bought one when I was 6 years old. I got to fire it when I was 8 years old (with my father standing behind me). It was the first pistol I ever shot. It was a make from the late '60s (he bought it new). The reason my father had me and my older brother fire it was because he kept it in his nightstand in case of intruder and my father wanted us as kids to understand it and have respect for it that it was dangerous & not a toy. Because of that neither my brother or I ever touched it unless my father was around and allowed it. I've owned many pistols & some rifles in my life so far but until my father died I never owned a Luger myself. My mother had my father sell his Luger only a few years before he died when his health started to decline (she was probably afraid he would commit suicide because of his declining health) so my brother & I never had a chance to acquire it from him. My father had other guns but that was the one he kept the longest. Even though my father's was a modern one he would be proud of my 1917 DWM 9mm.

03-22-2014, 02:19 PM	#5
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	First time heard of this pistol was from Soviet post WWII novel "Destiny of a Man". A Russian soldier lost his family in the war, he was captured. German had shortage on drivers, he knew how to drive, so he was moved out of camp to drive a car for an officer. He managed to escape. The pistol was mentioned in what context,,,, I forgot, that's too many years ago.... but it's not "Luger" in the book, it's referred as "Parabellum". It's many years later that I learned it had another name "Luger".

03-22-2014, 04:45 PM	#9
tomaustin Lifer X5 Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: texas Posts: 708 Thanks: 87 Thanked 522 Times in 201 Posts	closes 2016 ????

03-22-2014, 04:51 PM	#10
Curss User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 303 Thanks: 304 Thanked 98 Times in 75 Posts	My father used to talk about an engraved and fancy luger he found in a trailer home when he was a kid. He sold it to a friend of his for an astronomical price at the time after he broke the firing pin in it when he went plinking one day. ! He had a fascination for WWII era stuff as well, it kinda rubbed off on me I guess. He admired the P08, and almost bought a stainless luger made by Mitchell Arms. At some point in time, I got tired of hearing him go on about the dern things and I bought a parted out Erfurt, and that led to a DWM 1917, and THAT led to my beloved 1920 Commercial!!! I helped my dad get a S/42, and my DWM 1917 went to my little brother...my mom has no interest in them! Sadly my dad passed on January 7th, 2012. I sorely miss him, I think he would've been pleased to have seen some of the guns we have collected since. __________________ -Chris

03-22-2014, 05:11 PM	#11
318is_Parabellum User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: West Virginia Posts: 130 Thanks: 80 Thanked 75 Times in 31 Posts	Being a younger guy that grew up in the 70's and 80's, my fascination with the P. 08 stems from watching all the war movies I watched as a kid. The luger has always had a certain cachet and mystique as portrayed by Hollywood, especially in the movies made in the 25 years after war's end. I remember vividly, in a scene from "Where Eagles Dare", where the SS sturmbannfurher bursts into a conference room where Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood had taken some German officers hostage, and the SS man proceeds to hold them at gunpoint with his luger pistol. I remember thinking that "wow, that pistol is cool...I'll have one of those someday!". I finally acquired a byf 42 in 2005 or so. As a military veteran, and having had relatives who fought in both theaters of operations in WW2, I have since gained a real appreciation for the fact that I can acquire these weapons of our defeated enemies, and marvel at the role they played in history and making the world as it is today. Last edited by 318is_Parabellum; 03-22-2014 at 06:09 PM.

03-22-2014, 05:17 PM	#12
GySgt1811 Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Southern Indiana Posts: 237 Thanks: 1,238 Thanked 126 Times in 84 Posts	I just voted "other." Reason? All the above! Gunny John PS. Sorry about the spelling Nazi thing, Stressed, but I really wasn't sure.

03-22-2014, 06:46 PM	#15
Zorba User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Merritt Island, Fl Posts: 951 Thanks: 776 Thanked 526 Times in 289 Posts	Partially to honor my late father, a WW II vet (Navy, Pacific Theatre), partially because of the fine German engineering (I have a "thing" for old MBZ Diesels too), partly because of the connection to Nazi Germany (Make something good out of something bad), that period of history is the most responsible for the way our world is today and I grew up hearing ALL about it! I have a Nambu for the same reason, and would LOVE to add a Remington Rand 1911 to the collection. P.38 would be nice too!

03-22-2014, 09:49 PM	#16
Patronen User Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 312 Thanks: 335 Thanked 93 Times in 70 Posts	I look at lugers differently today than I did many years ago. The reason has been both the passage of time and education. I'll admit it started as a kid with movies. No Thanks to the Nazi's and Hollywood's help in portraying them in my opinion sealed the fate for the Luger as being the ultimate bad guys gun. You can pull 10 people at random off the street and show them a picture of a Luger and that could be any Luger a 1900 an American Eagle, Finnish, Swiss, maybe even an Erma .22 and I would beg to guess at least 5 out of the 10 would call it a luger or associate it with Nazis, Hitler or Germany under Nazism? __________________ Dave

03-22-2014, 10:02 PM	#17
Zorba User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Merritt Island, Fl Posts: 951 Thanks: 776 Thanked 526 Times in 289 Posts	Probably closer to 8 out of 10!

03-23-2014, 09:35 AM	#19
mikedavid Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lockport, Illinois Posts: 23 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 4 Posts	As a young boy in the 50's my fathers family (not my father) were, lets say, just the opposite of police. When they came to the house to visit they all carried Lugers. They would take out there gun and set it on top of a table and my father would tell me that I could look, but never touch. I fell in love with these pistols and as soon as I was able, purchase my first one. I have a collection of them now, and will give them to my children when I die. __________________ Mike D